Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Magnetic
nano-particle
Antibodies
Imaging
label
FIGURE 21.5
Cancer Cooker—Triton BioSystems is developing an anticancer therapy using antibody-coated iron
nanoparticles
[4]
.
prevent scar tissue formation. Experiments have shown that rat and mice with spinal injuries recov-
ered when treated with these nanofibers
[9]
.
21.4.4.2 Nanocapsules
A nanocapsule consists of shell and a space in which desired substances may be placed. Drug-filled
nanocapsules can be covered with antibodies or cell surface receptors that bind to cancer or various
cells and release their biological compound on contact with that specific tissue
[12]
. Polymeric nano-
capsules can now be made in specific sizes and shapes. These can then be functionalized by insert-
ing molecules with a particular property onto the shell of nanocapsules. These molecules cause the
release of the contents of the nanocapsule in response to a particular biomolecule which would be the
triggering mechanism in a targeted drug delivery system.
21.4.4.3 Nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes are tubes of graphite sheets with diameter in the nanoscale, including single wall
carbon nanotubes and multiwall carbon nanotubes
[12]
. The ends of some nanotubes are open, the
